Pilot walks

Examples from community pilots

These walking groups were developed and tested in collaborating with community organisations.

Syrian refugee families in Greenwich

A previous successful walking group pilot with Syrian refugee women was delivered in collaboration with Blaze Trails. This pilot demonstrated how walking-based, community-led approaches can be adapted across contexts to support connection, safety, and wellbeing.

Further information about the pilot and its outcomes can be found on the Blaze Trails website.

Festival of Social Sciences Events

We held two walking group events for Muslim mothers in East London and Bristol as part of the Festival of Social Science. These sessions brought together walking, shared food and opportunities for connection, alongside simple co-design activities to explore experiences and ideas.

These pilot walks helped us understand what felt most important to women and how walking groups can be designed in ways that feel safe, welcoming and meaningful.

Here's a link to a great summary of the Bristol event!

What worked well

• Familiar locations made women feel more comfortable
• Shared time (after the walk) supported connection
• Flexibility improved attendance
• Options for different pacing was preferred

Key learning

There's no 'right way' to run a group. Groups worked best when they adapted to local needs, prioritised safety and comfort and built trust over time.